What Is the Average Technical Writer Salary?
According to the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), the average technical writer salary in 2014 was $69,930, with a mean hourly wage of $33.19.
The lowest 10% salaries averaged $41,450, with an hourly wage of $19.93, while the top 10% best paid technical writers had an annual wage of $108,460, which breaks down to an hourly wage of $52.14.
A technical writer is in charge with producing a wide range of technical materials and maintenance instructions. The job is required to fill positions in various domains that make the technical writer salary differ considerably. With the fewest employees, the Specialized design industry is the best paid, offering an hourly mean wage of $41.20. The most lucrative field is the Computer Systems design industry that has the most employees and offers an hourly mean wage of $36.59.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Specialized Design Services | $41.20 | $85,700 |
| Other Information Services | $41.15 | $85,600 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $40.32 | $83,870 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $39.81 | $82,810 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | $38.22 | $79,500 |
Technical writer salary by location
There are several criteria that are factored in when determining the technical writer salary. Besides experience and employer, two factors that play an important role, geographic location can also influence the annual mean wage of a technical writer.
| State | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| California | $40.85 | $84,960 |
| Connecticut | $39.10 | $81,330 |
| Maryland | $38.47 | $80,010 |
| District of Columbia | $38.44 | $79,950 |
| Washington | $38.41 | $79,890 |
Technical writer benefits
According to the employer, technical writers have different benefits. The latest figures on 2015 show an average technical writer salary of 53,842. Based on this average, employers are expected to meet the following requirements:
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total |
| Base Salary | $53,842 | 69.10% |
| Bonuses | $743 | 1.00% |
| Social Security | $4,176 | 5.40% |
| 401K/403B | $1,965 | 2.50% |
| Disability | $491 | 0.60% |
| Healthcare | $6,592 | 8.50% |
| Pension | $3,439 | 4.40% |
| Time Off | $6,718 | 8.60% |
| Total Compensation | $77,966 | 100% |
Technical writer salary per company
The significant difference between the salary of the 10th percentile, situated in the $40,000 ballpark and the salary of the 90th percentile who can make more than $100,000 per year can be explained by the size and importance of the employing company.
| Job Title | Salary |
| Google Technical Writer | $125,402 |
| Infosys Technical Writer | $60,874 |
| Qtech Solutions Technical Writer | $57,917 |
| NIIT Technical Writer | $57,440 |
The technical writer salary varies according to geographic location, skill, experience and employer. The demand for the job is continuously increasing, with employees choosing this career path for the log run.
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Gabrielle Moreno
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